Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-11-09
EXPERIMENTS IN HYPNOTlSM.
Strange D"ings Of the Doctors in Pari
Startling Mental Phenomena.

Strange D"ings Of the Doctors in Paris.
Startling Mental Phenomena.
DIR. Luvs recently made a commuuica-
lion 10 the Academy Of Medicine on this
subject which electrified the members
present. |. was on the action. both at a
distance and 10y direct contact. of certain
mejicated and fermented substances on
hypnotic subjects. The latter were all
women who could not possibly have got
their cue beforehand, and We're being OBJ
served willie DIR. Luys operated by jury
of scientists above all suspicion Of having
lent themselves 10 any ;rickery. \ tube
in one instance was filled with sulphate
of strychnine 10y Dr. Luys. and the sub
ject, who WIS not present, was told TO
put 1t 10 the left side of the nape of her
neck. Soon after there was a telephone
message from the foreman of the jury to
say that the patient suffered in the left
side from muscular contractions, conyuls-
i've starts and rigid body. When the
drug was placed on the right side Of the
nape lin imagination) the same phenom-
enon took place.
An experiment. or rather experiments.
was made on subjects who Were brought
in 10 the operator. They had no idea
what DIR. Lays was going TO use. Al
Cohol when put 10 the nape in a tube
no larger than homeopathist S vial and
hermeticallv sealed produced exactly the
same effect as if imbibed at a bar. Alb
sinthe. hascli:sh. opium. morphine, beer,
champagne. tea and coffee were in sue
cesSion tried with their characteristic ef
fects. But 1.-The cup which cheers but
for French neuropaths. Nalerian caused
the deepest sadness. The thoughts of the
patient were centered in q grave. She
was impellei irresistibly to stoop down
and scratch tie ground, and thought her
self i'll cemetery exhuming a deceased
relative whom she loved. Under the il
lusion she fancied herself picking up
bones belonging TO this skeleton. which
she handled with tender reverence, and
when there was an imaginary mound of
them she placed. with dep drawn sighs
and tears and genuilections, n cross above
them. Under the influence of haschish
everything looked rosy and gayety pre-
vailed.
The subject was a young girl. very
fond of the drama. She fIncied herself
on the stage and playing part which
suited her 10 perfection. 1t was in
bouffe opera and she sang her score ad-
mirably. The sentiments were expressed
with delicate feeling. DIR. Luys can, ac-
cording to the substances he uses, run
through the whole gamut of human pas
sions and emotions.
What Is most strange is that no trace
of the fictitious world in which the
hypnotized subject has been wandering
remains when real consciousness is re-
stored. 1t Is very rare for even the idea
of having been in dreamland to survive
the awakening from the h, pnotic trance.
DIR. Luys says that hypnotic suggestion
has periods of incubation more
or less long. The subject is at first gently
drawn 10 do certain thing or things,
and then the drawing becomes an irresis-
uble impulse. They are first as if tempted
and then as if possessed. They can no
more help themselves than man who
lad got TO the verge Of Niagara Falls IN
boat could help going over.
DIR. Roger moved that the academy
name commission to inquire into hyp-
motto suggestion, near and at distance.
Or. Brouardel supported him. He said:
All that Dr. Luys has alleged and shown
fail TO make a noise throughout
he world. Nobody but NM. Burot and
Bouron have gone So far as DR.. Luys.
lie not only forces on the attention of the
the question of hypnotism. but
# persons being affected by poisonous
substances which DO not penetrate. or il
nay be even touch their bodies. This is
rom legal point Of view a great danger.
\ great social responsibility is involved
n the matter. 1t Is the duty of the academy
o have the experiments Of Dr. Luys re-
'eated, with others that bear upon them"
Paris Cor. New York Tribune.